Robert Cecil used the failed rising to show himself as a cool political operator, this made him look good in the eyes of Elizabeth’s eventual successor, James VI of Scotland.

What does the rebellion reveal about late Tudor England?

It illustrates that attitudes to rebellion had changed. Essex attempted to use the methods of the past to get his way yet his opponents realised that the political rules had changed – far better to work within the system for change rather than attempt to overthrow it.

The rebellion also shows that the majority of the higher nobles were in some way involved with the political system – they had too much too lose to jeopardise that position.

The rebellion also points to the rise of Parliament as a place to raise political grievances by those nobles who had issues with the regime.

Essex and his failure shows that rebellion of the nobility was now the last move of the desperate and powerless.

The failure of the Essex rebellion also shows that the political systems of the late Tudor state had become stable and organised, able to withstand the challenges from disgruntled factions.